Starting a Business
Startup Okaloosa
One Okaloosa EDC has created a new, on-line resource tailored to assist aspiring entrepreneurs, startups and small business owners. Dubbed Startup Okaloosa, the virtual incubator can now be found at www.startupokaloosa.com. Structured as an information portal, the site links to traditional and non-traditional funding partners, key advisory organizations, real estate options (including local co-working spaces) and educational resources. The site also includes curated news articles featuring timely information deemed relevant to entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as announcements of local networking and educational events.
As Startup Okaloosa evolves over time, targeted video content including interviews with local entrepreneurs will be added, along with other features designed to be of benefit to the intended audience. Community partners and organizations who interface with existing and aspiring entrepreneurs are encouraged to share the resource freely with their respective networks.
The Florida SBDC at the University of West Florida provides business assistance – including no-cost consulting, training and research tools – to any prospective or existing small business owner in Okaloosa County, as well as in our neighboring counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, Bay, Holmes, Washington, Gulf, Calhoun and Jackson. SBDC programs deliver up-to-date business management advice, training, and information to help business owners make sound decisions and to assist potential owners in starting on the right foot. Along with a primary location at UWF’s Emerald Coast Campus in Fort Walton Beach, SBDC personnel regularly hold client meetings at various outreach locations throughout Okaloosa County – including the Crestview Chamber of Commerce, the Destin Chamber of Commerce and the Northwest Florida State College Sikes Education Center. In addition, the SBDC at UWF regularly conducts workshops throughout Okaloosa County. Discover more at sbdc.uwf.edu
Starting a Business in Florida
We encourage you to go through the provided document on the right to review the various types of State and Local licenses, permits and regisrations that you will need to start your business.
Florida’s Business Information Portal
The State of Florida established the portal to help individuals seeking to start and operate a business in our state. By entering the type of business you wish to start, the portal will create a checklist to help you understand governmental requirements for your business category. www.OpenMyFloridaBusiness.gov
The eGuide will provide you the basic tools to open your business in Florida, and provide supplementary resources to the business-specific checklists available on the portal.
Business Tax Receipt for Okaloosa County
The following is a basic guideline of information you will need to begin a business in Okaloosa County. Additional information or requirements should be addressed with the appropriate agencies.
A Business Tax Receipt (formerly County Occupational License) is issued by the Tax Collector for the privilege of operating a business. Anyone providing merchandise or services to the public, even though a one-person company or home based occupation, must obtain a county business tax receipt to operate. The Business Tax Receipt fee is $35 per location, regardless of the nature of the business. The Okaloosa County Business Tax Receipt application and appropriate fee information may be obtained at www.okaloosatax.com or by visiting one of six County-Wide Okaloosa Tax Collector Locations.
Before an Okaloosa County Business Tax Receipt can be obtained, a business must meet all conditions required by city, county, state or federal agency regulations which apply to that business or occupation. Many businesses will be subject to zoning codes. Information about permits or inspections can be found at www.myokaloosa.com.
Do I need a permit to operate a business out of my home?
Yes, you need a home occupation permit from the Growth Management Department to operate a business out of your home. You may operate a business out of your home if you meet certain criteria that basically requires that you not change or alter the outside appearance of your home from a residence to a commercial use, no employees outside the family, all business activities are within 25% of the home and not in any detached buildings, and that traffic and noise is not beyond normal residential limits. Download the application.
City or Town Business Tax Receipts
In Okaloosa County, a business located within a city/town limit requires both a municipal license and a county license to operate. If the nature of a business takes employees inside a city/town limit to conduct business even though the business establishment is in the county, it may be necessary to obtain a city license also.
If your business will be in the city limits you will need both a municipal and county business tax receipt. The following is a list of offices where you may apply for a municipal business tax receipts within Okaloosa County
Town of Cinco Bayou
10 Yacht Club Drive, Fort Walton
Beach, FL 32548
850-833-3405
CincoBayou.com
City of Crestview
198 N Wilson Street
Crestview, FL 32536
850-689-1618
CityofCrestview.org
City of Destin
4200 Two Trees Road
Destin, FL 32541
850-837-4242
CityofDestin.com
City of Fort Walton Beach
107 Miracle Strip Pkwy
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
850-833-9500
FWB.org
City of Mary Esther
195 Cristobal Road
Mary Esther, FL 32569
850-243-3566
CityofMaryEsther.com
City of Niceville
208 N Partin Drive
Niceville, FL 32578
850-729-4008
Niceville.org
Town of Shalimar
2 Cherokee Road
Shalimar, FL 32579
850-651-5723
ShalimarFlorida.org
City of Valparaiso
465 Valparaiso Parkway
Valparaiso, FL 32580
850-729-5402
Valp.org
Certificate of Occupancy
After a location for your business has been established, a certificate of occupancy must be obtained from the proper building inspection division. This also applies to zoning permits (Certificate of Use).
Okaloosa County Building Inspection Department
1250 N. Eglin Pkwy, Suite 301
Shalimar, FL 32579
850-651-7180
You may need to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the respective municipality instead.